IH Logo PNG
IH, previously known as the International Harvester, is an agricultural machinery manufacturer and distributor from the United States, which was established in the very beginning of the twentieth century, and by today has grown into one of the strongest most reputable Companies in its segment. The main machinery in the IH portfolio is tractors and trucks, but lately, the brand also started producing small garden and household equipment of the highest quality.
Meaning and history
The International Harvester was a real people’s’ brand, which produced not only large commercial and agricultural machinery but also equipment, needed in every house. Due to its wide market, the brand didn’t care about the recognizability of its logo much and simply used a stylized monogram on its vehicles. The IH logo was redesigned just once, in 1986, in an attempt to get a more modern and progressive look.
What is IH?
IH, previously known as the International Harvester, is one of the largest American companies, engaged in the production of agricultural machinery. The company was established in 1902, and today is a part of the Navistar International Corporation.
1902 – 1915
The very first logo for the International Harvester was introduced in 1902. It was an elegant monogram in light brown, placed on a plain white background. The overlapping letters featured thin smooth lines and delicate soft serifs, which added style and sophistication. The “H” was placed inside the thin “C”, which looked almost like a closed ring, and the thick straight “I” was crossing the “H” in its middle, coming from the top point of the “C” to the bottom one.
1915 – 1923
The logo portrays the word “International” in an elegant, cursive script that is reminiscent of calligraphic handwriting. The deep blue hue of the text gives it a sense of professionalism and reliability. The script flows smoothly from left to right, suggesting fluidity and efficiency. The line beneath the text acts as a grounding element, providing stability and a base from which the company stands firm. This design reflects a company that values tradition and professionalism, with a personal touch that might suggest a customer-focused approach.
1923 – 1947
The logo of the International Harvester company, designed in 1923, featured a sharp and bright composition, based on a geometrical banner with a bold uppercase “International” lettering written across it. The horizontally-extended banner had pointed sides and was decorated by three vertically stretched rhombuses, which were drawn in white and burgundy, supporting the palette of the entire logo.
1938 – 1953
Another version of the International Harvester badge was introduced in 1938, and based on the logo, created in 1923. The main borrowed element here was the three rhombus figures, which grew a bit larger and got a refreshed blue and white color palette. As for the banner itself, it gained smoother contours and turned white. The Bold black lettering across the white banner was rewritten in a more stable and modern sans-serif typeface, reflecting the professionalism and confidence of the company.
1946 – 1973
In 1946 the company hires a famous artist Raymond Loewy to redesign the letter series of their tractors. The result was so good that the management asked Loewy to also rethink the main badge. And this is how the famous “Man on Tractor” logo appeared: Loewy sketched it on a menu while being on the train from Chicago to New York. However, it took some time for the company to change the official visual identity of the International Harvester, and the logo was introduced only in 1946.
The main part of the new logo consisted of two letters — the uppercase “H” in a massive bold sans-serif, drawn in black, and the lowercase “I” with square shapes, executed in red and placed over the “H”. The dot above the “I” was replaced by the square, which made the whole logo look masculine and strong.
As for the “International Harvester” inscription, set under the emblem, it was written in all capitals of a simple and neat sans-serif typeface, in black. The letters were slightly narrowed and looked very modest, giving all attention to the black and red monogram in the center of the badge.
The iconic “Man On Tractor” emblem was kept even after the acquisition of the brand by Navistar in 1986.
1973 – 1986
The redesign of 1973 has refined the contours of the IH banner, keeping the recognizable geometry of the logo. The solid black monogram grew larger and became sleek and elegant due to some softened contours of the internal part of the characters. Also, the body of the “I” was now outlined in white, and the massiveness of the composition is cut out by two more vertically stretched rhombuses strokes, which create an interesting pattern and add more air to the badge.
Font and color
The International Harvester inscription from the bottom part of the IH logo is written in the uppercase of a traditional and clean sans-serif typeface, which is very close to such fonts as Arial Arabic Bold and Akhbar Bold, the strict and neat types with professional and fundamental character and a sense of stability.
The red and black color palette of the International Harvester visual identity is a representation of the passion and strength of the company. This combination also evokes a sense of seriousness and protection, though sometimes can look brutal and even aggressive, depending on the placement.
